And it has made some major history along the way.

Fargo has come out from the cold and is basking in the warm glow of victory, becoming the first North Dakota team to ever play at the Little League World Series. The Midwest champions make their Series debut Friday night at Lamade Stadium and have set a new Little League standard back home.

“For us it’s a not a Fargo Youth baseball thing. It’s a North Dakota thing because it’s never been done before,” Fargo manager Chad Hanson said. “It’s everybody in North Dakota that has watched the Series on TV and tried to do it before. It’s kind of surreal right now because we’re getting opportunities that usually don’t occur.”

North Dakota has thrown its arms around this fabulous, resilient team. Driving home that point, Governor Doug Burgum reached out and congratulated the team following its thrilling 9-7 Midwest championship win against two-time Series qualifier Sioux Falls, South Dakota. 

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Twenty teams from around the world enter the field at Volunteer Stadium as part of opening ceremonies for the Little League World Series on Wednesday in South Williamsport.

Little League president Alex Sumner viewed the game back in Fargo at Buffalo Wild Wings as fans, young and older filled the restaurant. As soon as the final out was recorded, loud simultaneous cheers broke out. Fargo’s team is now North Dakota’s and these 12-year-olds have become the talk of the state.

“It was really loud and the support we’ve had is amazing,” Sumner said. “The messages we’ve received from other teams and leagues have meant a lot, too. We might compete against each other, but we’re also one big family.”

Because of the weather, North Dakota does not have the advantages warmer-weather states have. Still, baseball is starting to grow in this hockey town and an indoor baseball facility allows players to hone their skills through the harsh winter months. Rest assured, these Midwest champions spent a lot of time there, working and preparing for their opportunity.

These are talented players, but they also are driven ones. Fargo has been knocking on the Series door the last five years, winning the state championship each time. The 2018 reached the Midwest final but the Series remained just out of reach until this group came along and finally knocked down the wall which had blocked North Dakota since 1947.

“When the team was made, we wrote some goals down and some of them put, ‘go to Williamsport,’ but not many. They dreamed it but because no one had ever done it in North Dakota, it was hard to imagine that,” Hanson said. “I don’t know if they even grasp really what they’ve done. A kid said he dreamed about it a lot of times but didn’t know we were actually going to be here, so it’s really cool to see the joy on the kids’ faces.”

“It’s about the work that goes into it and the grittiness the players have to reach their goals,” Sumner said. “It says a lot about the players and the coaching staff which is amazing. They did all they could to reach their goals and it worked out.”

Every player has done his part to make history possible. All 12 players produced RBIs during regionals, highlighting the team’s depth and proving how each one is a weapon. Fargo also displayed its resilience when it thundered back after suffering its lone loss against South Dakota.

Unfazed by the loss or a one-run deficit against 2016 Series qualifier Johnston, Iowa, Fargo stormed back to win that game, 12-7. South Dakota scored four third inning runs to tie the game against Fargo but the Midwest champions responded with five runs an inning later and held off a late rally. The championship, a Series appearance and state immortality was theirs.

“The resilience of these kids is great. When we lost against Sioux Falls, it was a different team that we haven’t seen before. They were pretty down, but we hit on getting back to having fun and doing your thing,” Hanson said. “We said, ‘Just do your thing and play our game and play it as a team and see what happens.’ That part shows how much they’ve grown and matured. It’s not about them, it’s about the team and that’s fun to see them embrace that.”

Because North Dakota is embracing this team, that could do wonders for Fargo Little League’s future and North Dakota Little Leagues, in general. Little League has been slow to burn throughout the state but having a Series representative almost always leads to enrollment spikes. Time will tell but based on the countless messages Sumner has received it seems like Fargo will be experiencing something similar.

If that spreads throughout the state, then baseball there might start really taking off. Something similar happened in South Dakota where Rapid City’s success the previous two decades fostered more growth and led to Sioux Falls joining Little League in 2017 and quickly becoming a power. If more teams register in North Dakota, Fargo could have some new in-state rivals and it could be a case of iron sharpening iron with the state’s representative at regionals consistently being a strong one.

“I hope that it does keep growing because it’s a whole different experience for these kids and something they will never forget and, hopefully, North Dakota gets more exposure,” Sumner said. “That’s what is big about it, is the exposure part of it and people seeing what is going on.”

Something special has been going on this summer and whatever happens in South Williamsport will not change that. Win or lose here, Fargo has made its mark. They have broken down a huge barrier and showed future North Dakota teams what is possible. 

Other may follow in their footsteps, but it’s this 2023 Fargo team which led the way. What a legacy this team has built.

“These kids did it. That’s a big accomplishment for us to get over that hump,” Hanson said. “I just hope they have the time of their lives and always remember this. These 12 kids are like brothers, and they have grown leaps and bounds, independently, and it’s been awesome to watch.”